Geographical Collections. 127 



phorbiaceae, Polygoneae, Alismacese, Urticeae, Capparidea;, Malvaceae, Jasmineae, 

 ConvolvulacesB, Portulaccfe, Amaranthaceae, Typhacea;, Nayadeae, Salicariea, 

 Aroideae, Gross ularieaj, Cucurbitaceae, Hydrocharideae, Myrtem, Polemoniacea;, 

 Sannentaceje, Laurinea?, Cacteae, Tiliaceas, and Ebenacea. The generality of 

 tliese families also increase in number as you approach southern countries. 



Seven families increase on leaving the plains, but do not attain their maximum 

 in the Alps, but in elevated countries and mountains. They are the Agrimo- 

 aiese, Dipsaceae, Coniferse, Crassulaceae, Orchideae, Oleagneae, and Colchicaceae. 



Ten others become more frequent in elevated countries, and are less numerous 

 in the mountains. The Cyperaceae, Chichorace», Caryophylleae, RanunculaceaE, 

 Amentaceae, Rhinanthacea;, Valerianeas, Globularies, Berberideae, and Rhodo- 

 dendretc. 



Nineteen families increase towards the Low Countries, but do not attain their 

 maximum, which they present in the mountains. The Rosaceae, Pomaceae, 

 Drupaceas, Ulmaria, Labiata^, Tiliacese, Boragineae, Geraniaceje, Ericineas, Iri- 

 dem, Caprifoliacea;, Asparageas, Frangulaceaj, Hypericineas, Cisteae, Apocyne«, 

 Aristolochea?, Rutacea;, and Terebinthaceae. 



Six families increase in number in the low countries, and in part in the Alps, 

 and are less numerous in the mountains. The Graminea, Onagrarieae, Papava. 

 raceje, Acerineae, Plumbagineje, and Plantagineae. 



Two families, the Cruciferaj and UmbelliferaE, attain their maximum in the 

 low countries, and duninish nearly in the same relation towards the plains and 

 the Alps. These two families attain their maximum in temperate latitudes, and 

 become less frequent towards the poles or the equator. The Corymbiferae pre- 

 sent exactly opposite relations, and are less numerous in countries of a medium 

 elevation. 



Out of 1500 plants of the French Hora, growing at an elevation of more than 

 3000 feet, Decandolle found only 15 annuals. Out of C19 true alpine plants, 

 Mt. Wiest found 22 annual. The mountains of Germany possess the greatest 

 number of shrubs and trees. The Coniferae predominate in the most elevated 

 countries : oaks and beech trees in the low countries- The predominant species 

 in humid and marshy countries, are 459 in number : 73 others are peculiar to 

 the border of the sea, — among them Gramineae, Compositae, Chenopodcce, and 

 Cruciferas, are the most numerous. 



Very interesting results of the influence of soil, climate, and exposure, on the 

 distribution of plants, may be obtained by the comparison of the particular floras 

 of Switzerland, "Wurtemburg, Wetteravia, of Manheim, Vienna, and Dresden, 

 of Munster and Berlin. 



Switzerland possesses most Caryophyllese, Saxifrages, Primulaceae, and Com- 

 posita;. Wurtemburg has the greatest number of Orcliidea;, and Vienna of Le- 

 guminosaj. The less numerous families in Wurtemburg are the Euphorbiaceas 

 and the Gramines. Wetteravia is richest in Umbelliferje and in Ranunculacea;, 

 and the poorest in Composite, Cruciferae, Saxifrageas, Amentaceae, and Coniferae. 

 The Rubiaceae and the Amentaceae, (especially the willow trees of the banks of 

 the Rhine and the Necker,) predominate at Manheim, which presents the fewest 

 Cyperacea; and Primulaceae. The flora of Vienna is particularly rich in Euphor- 

 biacea; and in Leguminosa;. The Junceae, Caryophylleae, and Ericinea;, on the 

 contrary, are the less numerous. 



Dresden offers, after Munster and Berlin, the most Monocotyledons and Eri- 

 cineae, the fewest Umbelliferae and Malvaceae. In the flora of Munster the Jun- 

 ceae and the Graminae predominate ; the less frequent families are the Ranuncu- 

 laceK, the Leguminosaj, and the Rubiaceae. The Cyperacese, and, generally 

 speaking, the Monocotyledons, predominate at Berlin ; the Orchideae are 10 in 

 number, while there are 38 in Wurtemburg. 



The number of cryptogamous species in Germany surpasses that of the phane- 

 rogamous ; for 4340 species are known, distributed in the following manner in 

 the different families : 73 Ferns, 701. Blosses and Hepaticae, 375 Alg», 681 Li- 

 chens, and 2510 Fungi. 



